CHURCH officials last night warned of a door-to-door conman claiming to be collecting cash for an historic North Wales cathedral.

Bangor Cathedral clergy fear the man, dressed in black, is targeting the elderly.

They believe he is using a batch of gift aid envelopes stolen from the cathedral.

Cathedral dean, the Very Rev Alun J Hawkins, last night said people should not be fooled.

He said: "We never carry out house-to-house collections for the cathedral. The envelopes, which are clearly marked, are used for people to give donations when they visit the cathedral.

"We have discovered envelopes have been taken from the cathedral and it seems they are being used by somebody to try and get decent people, with big hearts, to part with their money by claiming it is in aid of the cathedral."

Cathedral organist and director of music Andrew Goodwin said: "I am appalled by what is happening. It is a mean and callous thing to do.

"We have had a couple of calls from people living in the Llanfairpwll area of Angle-sey who became suspicious when the man called at their homes. We immediately contacted the police.

"We don't know if he has conned people into giving him money.

"Our worry is that after Llanfairpwll he could have moved on somewhere else in the south Anglesey area, Menai Bridge perhaps.

"If anybody does turn up on your doorstep collecting money for the cathedral, the police should be informed "It is just something we have never done. Yes, members do make collections for Christian Aid but that is something totally different and, anyway, they would have official identification with them."

The scam comes as the cathedral, which dates back more than 1,450 years, prepares for a £1m facelift.

Plans include the restoration of the giant 4,000 pipe organ, providing facilities for the disabled, the creation of a museum and fitting viewing doors.

"A section of flooring is also rising at one end and that will have to be removed and replaced," said Mr Hawkins..

A North Wales police spokeswoman said an investigation into the conman was under way.